Electron Shell (Noun)
Meaning
A grouping of electrons surrounding the nucleus of an atom; "the chemical properties of an atom are determined by the outermost electron shell".
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The electrons in an atom occupy a specific region called the electron shell, which is a grouping of electrons surrounding the nucleus.
- Electronic shells are relatively stable and the configuration of the outermost electron shell determines the chemical reactivity of an atom.
- In a neutral atom, the number of protons in the nucleus equals the number of electrons in the outermost electron shell, maintaining electrostatic stability.
- The arrangement of electrons within an electron shell follows specific rules, which were explained by Pauli's exclusion principle and the Aufbau principle.
- Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to fill their outermost electron shell, resulting in chemical bonds with other atoms and the formation of molecules.